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Old teenage friend broke his back last weekend

One of my friends for 22 years wrecked his quad last weekend and broke his back at T 10. So far he has no feeling or movement in his legs. I just found out about it a couple days ago and was able to talk to him for a little while yesterday to kind of tell him what to expect. He's an old school cowboy that used to ride bulls and do all sort of crazy stuff. We hung out back when I was 17, 18, 19 and 20. I'm going to try to make it to the hospital he's at next week and poked my head in to say hi. Unfortunately he has no insurance. I'm hoping he gets to go to rehab over it Barrows where I went. I still know a couple of the therapist there. I heard somewhere that rehab time without insurance is 21 days. At least it's his back. Hopefully he'll be one of the lucky ones and get to walk again or at least get the feeling back but I kind of doubt it. He has a family. He worked construction with heavy equipment and his boss and him are good friends. We've been trying to reconnect for the past couple of years and it's a shame it's happening like this. Here's a picture of us. I'm the guy they're trying to pick up and he's the guy in the cowboy hat In the middle
I'm definitely going to be there for any help he needs.

Last edited by rybread; 06-10-2017 at 01:22 AM.

C-5/6, 7-9-2000
Scottsdale, AZ

Make the best out of today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Nobody knows that better than those of us that have almost died from spinal cord injury.

I'm so sorry for your friend. I really hate it when I hear that one more person has to deal with this injury! He's lucky he has you as he will learn a lot from your experience. Wishing him the best of luck!

So sorry to hear about your friend! I am with Mombo, I hate it when other people have this type of injury, the lifestyle and the pain. I wish no one has this. I am a T10 also, but I am an incomplete, meaning I regained some feeling and movement back, but not enough to walk again. I'm in a chair for life. I didn't have insurance when I had my accident and I got on Medicare, they helped pay for almost everything. Do you know if he has tried Medicare?

T10 incomplete 12/2007 "Why tiptoe through life to arrive safely at death?"

Gilhooley, I suspect you mean you got on MEDICAID when you were newly injured and uninsured. You are not eligible for MEDICARE until you have been on SSDI or SSI for 24 months after your injury, unless you are already over the age of 65 or already disabled from some other condition. MEDICAID is the federally funded, state run program that covers catastrophic injury care for low income people who are uninsured. I suspect that if the man in question is employed, but uninsured he may have too much in the way of assets to qualify right away for Medicaid. In most states, you can own a home, 1 vehicle, and have no more than $2000 in other assets, and this applies to your family, not just the individual.

Ryan, Medicare usually limits inpatient rehab after a SCI to 18 days, but any limits set by Medicaid would be set by the individual state. The social worker at the hospital where he is currently should be helping him apply for Medicaid in AZ, if he is eligible.

What an honorable thing to do.

Originally Posted by rybread

One of my friends for 22 years wrecked his quad last weekend and broke his back at T 10. So far he has no feeling or movement in his legs. I just found out about it a couple days ago and was able to talk to him for a little while yesterday to kind of tell him what to expect. He's an old school cowboy that used to ride bulls and do all sort of crazy stuff. We hung out back when I was 17, 18, 19 and 20. I'm going to try to make it to the hospital he's at next week and poked my head in to say hi. Unfortunately he has no insurance. I'm hoping he gets to go to rehab over it Barrows where I went. I still know a couple of the therapist there. I heard somewhere that rehab time without insurance is 21 days. At least it's his back. Hopefully he'll be one of the lucky ones and get to walk again or at least get the feeling back but I kind of doubt it. He has a family. He worked construction with heavy equipment and his boss and him are good friends. We've been trying to reconnect for the past couple of years and it's a shame it's happening like this. Here's a picture of us. I'm the guy they're trying to pick up and he's the guy in the cowboy hat In the middle
I'm definitely going to be there for any help he needs.

Rybread,

What an honorable thing to do to reach out to your friend. I am sure he was scared and a pleasure to see you.

Sometimes I get a call from the hospital from a nurse on the rehab floor, or a nursing home, or when I go for a test at the hospital I stop at the rehab floor or if I read about a person sustaining a spinal cord injury I call the family or someone calls me to see their son in the hospital. I do.

It give them a sense of relief and security and they ask me a lot of questions. Many times I keep it short about fifteen minutes but sometimes I had parents in the room and they asked many questions and I talked with them for four hours.

That was very kind gesture, generous and honorable thing to do for this man. It just shows what kind of person you are.

Ti.

"We must overcome difficulties rather than being overcome by difficulties."

Keep up the contact with him. The mail, emails, and visits from friends while I was in the hospital meant a lot to me. I'll never forget receiving a handmade card from a colleague as I was being prepped for surgery... a friend taking the time to play scrabble online with me... friends who dropped by... a friend who sent me postcards. Sometimes the most simple gesture can hit at the right time to make a big impact.

I haven't had the chance to go visit him yet. He's been so busy with therapy and it's hard for me to get down there. I'm going to set up transportation tomorrow to go visit him on Saturday so we can chill out without having to worry about therapy

C-5/6, 7-9-2000
Scottsdale, AZ

Make the best out of today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Nobody knows that better than those of us that have almost died from spinal cord injury.